Foundations of Public

Administration

Mr. Joshue R. Santiago

Special Operations Officer IV
Office of the Vice Mayor, Manila
The Challenge
 Mission Statement

We will create a Learning Environment to explore and

implement socially just and democratic public service,
thus We:

thinkcriticallyandcreatively;

communicateeffectively;

workcollaboratively;

embracediversity;

valuefairnessandequity;

advocatepowerfullyonbehalfofthepublic;and

imaginenewpossibilitiesandaccomplishpositive

changeinourworkplacesandinourcommunities.
 Methodology

There will be a lecture type presentation of

topics and the students will be assigned to
prepare their reports through Powerpoint
Presentation as part of the students project.
Open Discussion after every Presentation is
encouraged to provide opportunity to expound
on topics at hand.
Short Quizzes will be given before the end of
every meeting.
Final Examination will be conducted on the last
day of the meeting in order to gauge the
 Course Description

FoundationsofPublicAdministrationisthefirstsubjectin
ayearlongcoreprogramforBPAstudents.Through
interdisciplinarystudy,collaborativelearning,speaking
acrossdifferences,andpersonalengagementwewill
addressthefollowingfourquestionsthroughoutthefour(4)
meetings:
1) Whatispublicadministration?

2) Whoarepublicadministrators?

3) Whydoespublicadministrationmatter?

4) WhataretheIssuesandChallengesinPublic

Administration?
 Topic Outline

Nature and Scope of Public Administration

The Environment of Public Administration
Administrative Theories and Organization for
Public Affairs
Management Techniques and Processes
Management of Human Resources
Fiscal Administration
 Topic Outline

Accountability and Ethics in the Public Service

Regulatory Functions and Processes
Special Economic Zones and Local
Governance
Public Enterprise and Economic Development
Issues and Challenges in Public Administration
 Our Agreements

We show up to all classes on time.

We are prepared, listen, and share our views.
What is said in this room stays in this room.
We respect others.
We disagree with ideas, not people.
We do no harm as we engage in the learning process.
We are honest.
We do our best work.
We turn in our work on time.
We actively and enthusiastically engage in learning.
We invest in ourselves.
We create a safe place.
We have fun.
 Grading System

Attendance 10%
Quizzes 20%
Report 20%
Project 20%
Finals 30%
Total 100%
Part I: Meaning,
Nature, Scope and
Significance of Public
Administration
Views of Public
Administration
What, Why, When, Where, Who
& How?
Views of Public Administration
As a Field of Practice

According to Waldo (1955), PA has dual usages: as

a field of practice and a field of study. The meaning
invoked is the activity or process of administering
public affairs and carrying out governmental
functions.
Example of PA practices
Enacting a law
Making decision on the best policy concerning
an issue
Formulating the MTPDP
Maintaining peace and order
Processing of claims
Building roads and bridges
Issuance of license
Setting standard and Processes
Views of Public Administration
As a Field of Practice

Tendero (2000) explained about processes in the

continuing changes in a society. What direction is
our society being headed to? How to confront the
various conflicts and problems? Who should be
responsible?
Areas of Concern

AGENDA -Absence of a blueprint reflects lack

of vision
POLICY - Absence of consistent framework
spells success or failure
PLANS & PROGRAMS - Absence of a plan
leaves the fate of society to chance, a
Views of Public Administration
As a Field of Study or Discipline

PA is concerned with discovering and

advancing theoretical and practical knowledge
in the field using scientific methods and other
social sciences use
PA differs from political science in its emphasis
on bureaucratic structure and behavior and its
methodologies (Rossenbloom, 1989)

Example of PA as a field of study

Empirical studies
Case method analysis
Surveys
Quantitative analysis
What is the PA subject matter or focus
to be studied?

Example of PA as a field of study

how a policy is made and implemented
The interrelationship between government
institutions
Human Resource development
Impact of environmental regulation on
communities and economic activities
the behavior and attitude of public officials as the
perform
their official duties
Leadership styles of public managers
Mechanisms adopted by poverty-focused programs
The relations of government and the citizens
What is also considered an applied
discipline?

It has practical use for government,

particularly in improving government
performance

it prepares persons for careers in

public service and trains them to be
good public administrators
Views of Public Administration
As: Both an Art and a Science

As an Art:

PA involves creativity, leadership, a

good sense of the intangibles in
administration. This view is closely
to the practice of PA
 Views of Public Administration
As: Both an Art and a Science

As a Science:
There is a body of knowledge or theories that
can explain or predict phenomenon or variables
in the field of PA
The PA theories and concepts are built based
on empirical research using systematic methods
These theories can be used not only to
explain but also improve the art and practice of
PA (Bautista, 1990)
Definition of Public
Administration

Waldo, 1955

PA is the organization and

management of men
and materials to achieve the
purposes of
government
PA is the art and science of
management as
applied to the affairs of the state
Definition of Public
Administration

Caiden, 1971
is a cooperative group effort in a public setting
covers all three branches executive,
legislative and judicial and interrelationships
has important role in the formulation of
public policy and is , thus, part of the political
process
as a field of study and practice , it has been
influenced by human relations approach
is closely associated with numerous private
groups and individuals in providing services to
Definition of Public
Administration

Fry, 1989

PA is policy-making. It is not
autonomous, exclusive or isolated policy
making.

PA is one of a number of basic

political processes by which this people
achieves and controls governance
Definition of Public
Administration

Rossenbloom, 1989
PA is the action part of government. The means
by which the purposes and goals of government
are realized. PA as a field is mainly concerned
with the means for implementing political values
PA differs from political science in its
emphasis on bureaucratic structure and
behavior and its methodologies
PA differs from administrative science in the
evaluative techniques used by non profit
organizations because profit-seeking
organizations are considerably less constrained
Definition of Public
Administration

Rossenbloom, 1989
The process of PA consists of the actions
involved in effecting the intent or desire
of a government . It is thus the
continuously active, business part of
government, concerned with carrying out
the law, as made by the legislative bodies
(or other authoritative agents)and
interpreted by courts, through the
Definition of Public
Administration

De Guzman, 1993
From a very broad perspective, PA may be
viewed to refer not only in activities carrying
out or implementing policies and programs of
the government but also to the processes
and contents of these policies and programs

From a broader perspective, PA may refer

to the cooperative human action whether
within the public bureaucracy, the private
sector or in nongovernmental organizations
Public and Private Administration
Criteria Public Private
Administration Administration
1.Relations to subject to public Less exposed to
environment scrutiny; public public inspection;
demand and internal processes
expectations; are kept from public;
political pressures response to public
guided by market
dynamics
2. Accountability Accountable to management
the public; accountable to
transparency in owners of
transactions is firms/corporations
expected
3. Measure of general public profit is
performance satisfaction is the bottomline
gauge in the
improvement in the
quality of life
 Referrences

Bautista, Victoria. (Cited in Supplementary Readings.)

Caiden, Gerald. (Cited in the Supplementary Readings.)
Fry, Brian. Five Great Issues in the Profession of public Administration in Jack
Rabin, W. Bartley Hildreth, Gerald J. Miller (eds). Handbook of Public
Administration, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1989.
Ocampo, Romeo. Toward a Review of Research and knowledge in Philippines
Public Administration in Victoria A. Bautista, Ma. Concepcion P. Alfiler, Danilo R.
Reyes, Proserpina D. Tapales (eds.) Introduction to Public Administration in the
Philippines; A Reader, Quezon City: College of Public Administration, University
of
the Philippines, 1993.
Rosen bloom, David H. and Deborah D. Goldman. The Practice and Discipline of
Public Administration: Competing Concerns in David Rosen bloom (ed) Public
Administration: Understanding Management, Politics and law in the Public
Sector,
New York: Random House, 1989.
Module Introduction to PA, Open University, UP, NCPAG, Diliman, Quezon City,
Philippines
Tenedero, Avelino P. Theory and Practice of Public Administration in the Phils.